For contractors on site
Certificates the same day, tools covered on site and in transit, and what to do when a subcontractor cannot prove coverage. Tell us the problem and a licensed specialist will solve it.
Construction work does not happen at a desk, and the insurance problems that stop a job are the ones that surface on site: a certificate that has not arrived, tools that walked off overnight, or a general contractor who will not let your crew start until the paperwork is right.
This is the coverage and paperwork side of the trade, aimed at the contractor who is on site rather than in an office. What you need, how fast it can be produced, and what to do when it goes wrong.
A general contractor, a client or a lender needs proof of coverage before your crew can start or before a closing.
The most common loss contractors actually file, and the one general liability never pays for.
You hired a sub, their certificate is expired or missing, and your exposure is now uninsured.
If a general contractor has asked you for something you do not recognise, send us the wording. It is usually one of four things: additional insured, a waiver of subrogation, primary and non-contributory wording, or a specific limit. Recognising which one it is takes a minute and saves a day.
Usually yes, once the policy is in force and we have the requirement in writing. The bottleneck is almost never the insurer, it is an incomplete request. Send the certificate holder's exact name, the limits, and whether additional insured is required.
That depends on whether you have inland marine and what the theft-from-vehicle wording says. Many policies exclude theft from an unlocked or unattended vehicle overnight. This is the single most common reason a tools claim is denied.
If they are injured on your job and they carry no coverage, the claim can be treated as yours. If their work causes damage, the claim can also reach you because you hired them. Checking certificates is not paperwork, it is the coverage itself.
Licensing is separate from insurance and varies by state. What matters for insurance is that your policy lists every state you operate in, because pricing follows the highest-exposure state on the schedule.
Tell us your trade, state and what you need, and a licensed specialist will follow up.
